Closures for collapsible tubes



Dec. 6, 1932. c. v. HlcKMAN ET A1.` 1,390,441

CLOSURES FR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES .l

Filed June l5. 1931 lNvENTR ATTORNEYJ,

Patented 6, 1932- y UNITED STATES PAYTENT ora-"ICEI CLOSURES FOR -COLLAPSIBIE TUBES f Application led June 15,

.5 which are not completely retained by the form of closures heretofore employed. Our

`invention is particularly adapted for the Aclass of tube closures in which the contents of the tube or container may be dispensed or lo extruded Without removal of the cap.

An important object of our invention is toV provide a closure which is partlcularly adapted `to hold refractory or dliiic'ult-tocontrolliquids, such as f-glycerine, which are not v'completely or satisfactorily retained by the type of closures heretofore provided.

The forms of collapsible tube closures heretofore employed are not adaptedto hold highly volatile liquids, such as perfumes, 1n which a highly volatile essential oil or aromatic material is held in solution or under pressure in a solute or liquid vehicle; nor `are they adapted to hold certain viscous materi'als having cree ing characteristics, or in otherwords, a high capillaryattraction. Such liquids, as glycerine, for example, appear to creep through all ordinary ]oints or seals and cannot be held in any form of collapsible tube closure heretofore devised. The closure of our invention, as hereinafter fully explained, serves to completely hold such refractory liquids Without loss of material either through leakage or volatilization.

Y Another object of the invention isto provide a closure which is particularly adapted for holding substantially Aany form of divisible material, such as comminuted solids, dry or wet powders, pastes, or other materials containing granular or powdered par- 0 ticles.

In the form of closures heretofore employed such materials clog the closure and prevent complete closing of the cap or closure means, or leave an amount of the material adhering to the closure means so as to form a slug, which in the case of paste, for example, vdries out and frequently prevents further operation of the closure. o

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of closure in which the .5 part-s of the closure means become automatiiesi. serial N. 544,626.

cally adjusted when the closure is put into the closed position. In accordancev with this object, one feature of the preferred -form of our invention comprises-a spherical surface upon the neck portion of the closure `which cooperates with a cap having acircular knife edge adapted to contact with the spherical surface and to completely seal ofi' the contents of the container. It will be apparent that geometrically the Vcircle of the knife edge contacts With only a corresponding ci'rcleVV on the spherical surface, irrespective of the; angle of approach of the circular knife edge, and thereby serves automatically to adjust its position to form a completely sealed closure. A very distinct advantage of this feature of the invention is that in continued use of the closure the contacting sur- `faces become in effect case 'hardened or burnished so that there isno deterioration with use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of closure vin which solid or granular particles tending to clog the exit of the closure Will be displaced in the movement of the parts in advancing tothe closed position and thereby prevent leakage or clogging of the closure.

VIn accordance With this object, Weprovide a cap havng a kn'fe edge portion sopositioned soy that it has a rotary forward movement when advancing to -the closed position in engagement with the tapered or spherical surface, this rotarymovement causing the i knife edge to bite through oi-.displace any particles in its way, thus.perm"tting perfect seating of he knife edge and completely sealing olf the material in thetube or container,` therein being an improvement lover a surfaceto-surt'ace closure. Y l Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of closure in which the extrusion or dispensing from the tube may be accurately and posiively regulated, -theleby conserving material, such as expensive perfumes, and permitting extrusion of predetermined amountsvof materials, such as medicines Wh'ch would be harmful in excess amounts or corrosive if permitted to Contact with surfaces or parts for which they are not intended.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Vform of collapsible tube closure which, in a slightly modified form, maybe employed as a combned medicine container and dropper Awhich .cannot'become clogged, and in which there are only metal parts, so that no change occurs in thecontainer or closure with vage or continued use.

which maybe employed with substantially' any physical form -of material adapted to be held in a collapsible tube or like container.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises various features hereinafter more full ldescribed and particularly de lined in the c ai'ms.'

In the drawlng, illustrating several embodiments of the invention, and in' which similar reference characters indicate similar parts Fig. ing, one form of the invention in vthe closed position;

cap

Fig. 3 shows anotherform of the invent'on in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectlonal viewin elevation illustrating another form of the invention with the provision of a non-'removable cap;

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified form of the invention rovided at its lower en d with threads 4 and 1s also provided with a discharge aperture,

or a plurality of discharge apertures 5, located between the threads and the top of the dispensing neck, preferably near the top thereof. The upper end of the neck is provided with a curved portion 6 which is preferably spherically curved. This curved -or ta ered portion acts as a part of a valve for e ecting a closure which will be described e hereinafter.

Cooperatin y with this dis ensing neck 3 is a cap general made of 'ductlle metal, bakelite, vulcanite,

5 ebonite etc. cap, cooperates with the Fig. 2 is atop view of Fig. 1, wihout the designated which may be' dispensing neck by means of threads 8 for effecting relative axial movement between the dispensing neck and the cap.

The cap 7 1s provided at its top with a the orifice 9 will seat upon the spherical or conical top ofthe neck 3. `In effecting this, the knife ed has a rotar movement, which causes it to digite into or isplace any material in its way, and so a very tight seal is effected. As will be obvious from the drawing, the knife edge .preferably contacts the curved surface at an angle substantially normal to the latter, although it is to be understood that any angle whlch will give rise to a knife edge seal is within the contemplation of the invention. Any irregularities in the knife edge will be destroyed as it is forced to its seat. The shoulder 11 may be knurled to give a good gripping action.

In operation, slight movement of the cap `.7b iin th faellv illoenthe 1 is a sectional view "n elevation showy gr PF] g e sur c' w p closure. pon pressure on the sides of the tube 1 the contents will be extruded through the discharge apertures 5 into the recess 12 formed between the dis nsing neckand the cap, and thence'out o the orifice 9. It is of course readily apparent that thecap need not be entirely'removed fromthe neck. One turn is sufficient for ordinary use. To close,

the cap is turned down to bring the knife .edges 10 into rotating biting contact with the surface 6.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the closure is rovided with a gasket 13 situated between e outside of the neck and inside of the c ap. Such a gasket is not only preferable, but in most cases necessary, when liquids, particularly glycerine and other viscous materials, are dlspensed. The provision of the gasket 13'prevents seepage of such liquid through and around the threads 4 and 8.-

The gasket is not necessary when granular materials, or semi-solids such as 'tooth paste and shaving cream `are dispensed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 there is provided a cap which is not removable from the neck. This is made possible by the provision of tprnefl-inlips 14 situated on the lower end of the cap 7 Thus when the cap is in open position it isV effectively retained on the dispensing neck by means'of the lips 14, kand the shoulder 15 of the dispensing nec l In this modification both theA dispensing -neck and Vthe cap may be provided with a minimum number of threads, so that the threads ofthe cap after several turns, may become disengaged from the threads of the dispensing neck, so that continued rotation of the capwill not dstroy either the threads .the cap, instead of being provided with aA central orifice in the ca has a small channel 16 connecting with t e recess 12 between the cap and dispensing neck. y In `operation the knife edges are lifted from the surface 6 by slight movement of the cap. Then upon pressure on the sides of the walls of tube 1 the material is extruded through the apertures 5 into the recess 12 and thence out the channel 16. This modification may have a gasket when the dispensing of liquids is contemplated.`

The modification shown in Fig; 7 is par-I ticularly adapted for the dispensing of glue, paste and the like. The elements shown in this modification are much the saine as those illustrated in yFi 4, the cap and dispensing neck, however, eing rela-tively long,l The long neck 3 terminates in a spherically ciirved top 6', and is provided with discharge apertures 5. The cap 8 has an opening at the top defined by an annular knife edge 10 which seals a amst the curved top 6'. A gasket 13` an lip 14' .may be used, vif de# sirable. i

In operation, the long tapered cap is given a few turns to open the closure and the tip a plied to paper or other materialu on which t e paste or glue is to be deposite and then this tip is drawn across the paper while pres; sure is being applied, to the tube to dispense the contents.

"It is evident `that whether the edges 10 come down on the surface 6 pcrpendicularly or at an angle an air and liquid tight seal4 will always be obtained. Thus, should the threads of the neck or cap vbe sli htly out of line andthe orifice 9 thrown a ittle out of perpendicular with the'neck 3, upon closing, the edges 10 will grip the spherical surface 6 at an angle, but will nevertheless, effect a tight closure in any position. The spherical surface is superior to the conical surface in this respect, although the conical surface isV entirely satisfactory in certain cases.

It is also readily apparent that the griping and biting action of the knife edges 10 into the surface 6 is a distinct "advantage over the methods of closure wherein a Vsurface to surface contact is used. In this latter t pe of closure, where, upon closing, the sur ace of the ca would merely rub against the sur-` facefof t eyneck, any hard granules between these two surfaces would ofcourse prevent an air and liquid tight seal.

In the modification of Fig. S, the neck 3" is conical and the knife edge `10 seats on the conical side, instead of on the spherical top, as in Fig. 7. `In this form,'the top end of the neck provides a place whet'e a drop of liquid, as medicine, may form. It is obvious `that the top end of the neck which protrudesl above the knife edge 10 serves also as a plug to minimize accumulation of excess material on the top of the cap. It is likewise obvious that this construction could be well applied to the other modifications of the invention,

particularly as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7 In certain aspects of the invention, and lwith particular substances, it is sufficient to make the top of the neck, inthe several 4modifications, conical insteadof spherical, and it is within the contemplation of the invention to have the knife edge seat against such .coni- 'cal surface, but the use of a spherically curved surface above.

The terms curved or curved in cross section as employed in the claims are intended to mean having an inclination or curve and are intended to include'a spherical surface, a 'conical surface, a parabolicisurface, or other `regular surfaces as generated by a line or curve around a central axis.

While .several embodiments of the invention have been described in someA detail, it Should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to these precise details but may be carried out in other ways.

We claim as our invention 1. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like of the type permitting removal of material without removing the cap member, which comprises a neck portion on the collapsibleftube, a top portion on saidl neck having a curved surface, a cap member having an opening in the top portion thereof, a continuous knife edge portion on said cap mem ber adapted to engage said curved surface at such an angle as to provide a knife dgerseal, said neck`portion vhaving anopening below presents distinct advantages, as noted said'knife edge seal throughwhich material an opening in the top portion thereof, a continuous knife edge portion on said capmeniber adapted to engage said top portion surface at such an angle as to provide a knife edge seal, said neck portion having an opening below said knife 'edge seal through which ma- 125 terial is passed from the collapsible tube -in the open position of said cap member, and threadedmeans interconnecting the neck and.. cap, whereby when the cap member is turned to closed position, the knife edge will bite through the top portion and effect a knife edge seal.

3. A closure for collapsible tubes and the I likeof the type permitting removal of material without removingl the cap member, which comprises a neck portion on the container, a spherical top portion on said neck, a cap member having an opening in the top portion thereof, a. continuous knife edge portion on said cap member adapted to adjustably engage said spherical surface at such an angle as to-provide a knife edge seal, said neck portion 4having an opening therein below'the knife edgeV seal permitting removal of material from the container in the open position of the cap member, and means for effecting forcible engagement of said knife edge portion with vsaid spherical surface.

4, A closure for collapsible tubes and the like of the type permitting removal of material without removing the cap member, which comprises a threaded neck portion on said Acontainer provided with a discharge opening,

a spherically curved top portion on said neck portion, a cap member, a threaded portion on said cap member adapted to cooperate with the threads on the neck portion, the cap mem- -ber being provided with an o ening in the top thereof for exit of material rom said container, said cap member 4having a projecting knife vedge adapted to engage said spherically curved top portion above said discharge opening at an angle substantially normal to said curved top portion, whereby when the cap member is turned into closed position, the knife edge will bite 4through to the spherica'L ly curved top and acomplete knife edge seal is obtained.

- 5. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising a dispensing neck the outer portion of which has acurved surface, the neck being providetd with a discharge aperture, a closure cap taking over and cooperating with said head, the cap being provided [with an orifice detinedby an annular knife edge, the angle of said knife edge being substantially normal to the curvedfsurface of the neck and Vmeans for effecting relative axial movement between the dispensing neck 1- and the closure cap, whereby the annular Y knife edge engages the curved surface of the neck above said discharge aperture for effecting an annular, curvilinear seal, the interior of the cap, below said curvilinear seal,

when in sealing position, being spaced away from the outer surface `of. the dispensing head.

V6. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising. a dispensing neck the top portion of-which is spherically curved,"the

' neck being provided with aV discharge `aperture, a closure cap takng 'over and cooperat- 4ing with saidV head, the cap being provided with a central orifice defined by an annular knife edge, the angle ofy said knife edge being substantially normal to the spherically ycurved portion of the neck and means, in,

cluding cooperating threaded members, for effecting a limited axial movement between the dispensing head and` the closure'cap,

wherebyV the annular knife edge engages the spherically curved surface of the head above said dischar e aperture with a rotary movement for e ecting an annular curvilinear seal, the interior of the cap, below the curvilinear seal, when in sealing position, being spaced away from the interior of the cap.`

Y 7. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like of the type permitting removal of ma-y terial without removing the cap member, which com rises a 4neck portion on the collapsible tu e, a conical top portion on said neck, a cap member having an opening in the top. portion thereof, -a continuous knife,

edge portion on said cap member adapted to engage said conical top portion at such an angle as to provide a knife edge seal, said neck `portion having an opening below said knife edge seal through which material is passed from the collapsible tube in the open position of said cap member, and threaded means interconnecting the neck and cap, whereby when thecap member is turned to closed position, the knife edge will bite through to the conlical top portion and effect a knife'edge sea .,f f

8.\ A closure for collapsible tubes and the Y likeof the type permitting removal of material without removing the cap member, which comprises a threaded neck portion on said container provided with a discharge opening, a conical top portion on said neck portion, a cap member, a threaded portion on said cap memberv adapted to cooperate with the threads onf the neck portion, the cap member being provided with an opening in the top thereof for exit of material from said container said cap member having a projecting knlfe e'dge adapted to engage .n0-

said conical top portion above said discharge 'opening at an angle substantially normal to the conical top portion, whereby when the cap member is turned into closed position, the knife edge will bite through to the conical top' portion and a complete knife edge seal is obtained. v

9. `A closure for collapsible tubes andthe 1 like of the type permitting removal of mate# rial without removing thev cap member, which comprises a neck portion on thel collapsible tube, a top portion on said`neck having a' curved surface, a cap member having an opening in the top portion thereof, a continuous knife edge portion on said cap member adapted to engage said curved surface at such an angle as'to provide a knife edge seal, said neck portion having an opening below 'said knife edge seal through whichv material isY passed from the collapsible tube in the open position of said cap member, a gasket placed 'between the outside lower part of the neck and the inside of the cap and means for effecting forcible engagement of said knife edg'e portion with said curved surface.v

10. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like of the type permitting removal of material without removing the cap member, which comprises a threaded neck portion on said container provided with a discharge opening, a spherically curved top portion' on sald neck portion, a cap member, la gasket-` -placed between the outside lower part of` the neck andthe inside of the cap member,

` a threaded portion onv said'cap member adapt-- ed -to cooperate with the threads on the neck portion, the cap member being provided with' an opening in the top thereof for exit of maA tcrial from said Container, said cap member having a projecting knife edg'e disposed at an angle substantially normal to the spherical top portion and adapted to'engage said spherically curved top portion above said disy charge opening, whereby when the cap member is turned into closed position, the knife edge will bite through to the vspherically curved top and a complet-e knife edge seal is` said knife edge seal through which material is passed from the collapsible tube in the open osition of said, cap member, means for efecting forcible engagement of said knife edge portion with said curved surface and means for preventing complete removal of` thev cap member. y

`12. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like of the type permitting removal of mate rial without removing the cap member, which .comprises a threaded neck portion on said container provided with. a discharge 'opening, a s pherically curved top portion on said neck portion, a. cap member, a threaded portion on said cap member adapted to cooperate with the threads on the neck/portion, the cap membei` being provided with an opening in the top thereof for exit of material from said container, and with' an inturned lower lip for preventing complete removal ofthe can, said cap member having a projecting knife edge adapted to engage said spherically `.curved top portion above said discharge` opening at an anglesubstantially normal to the spherical top portion, whereby when the cap member is turned into, closed position, the knife edge Will bite through to the spherically curved top and a complete knife edge seal will be obtained. v

13. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the opening in the top portion of the cap'meinber passes through anose portion extending outwardly from the body of the said cap portion, whereby it is adapted for the dispensing of medicine or as a dropper. i

14. Astructure as specified in claim 3 in which the said 4cap memberjis-provided with an open nose portion, the opening through the said nose portion communicating with the said opening in the top portion of the cap member whereby the construction is particularly adapted as a dropper or dispensing closure for liquids or volatile materl als not tend` ing to cause clogging in the said open nose portion.

15. A closure for'collapsible` tubes, comprising in combination a neck portion having a discharge opening therein, a cap member engageable with said 4neck portion and .provided with a discharge orifice, the cap member being provided with an annular knife edge adapted to be brought into forcible engagementwith the top of the neck portion and to bite into it for effecting a knife-edgeV seal, the cap and neck portion being provided withengaging means for forcing the cap downwardly so that its knife edge goes into y biting engagement with the neck portion upon relative movement f the cap member and neckvportion. i

t 16. Aclosure for collapsible tubes, comprisi ing in combination a neck portion havin a `discharge opening, a cap member engagea le with said neck portion .and provided with a J discharge orifice, the cap member being provided with an annular knifeedge adapted to be brought into forcible biting enga ement with the neck portion at a point substantially below the top thereof leaving a' protuberance above the knife edge portion when in closed position, the cap and neck portion being pro vided with engaging means for forcing the cap downwardly'so that its'knife edge goes into biting engagement with tlie neck portion upon relative movement of the cap member and neck portion.

17. `A closure for collapsible tubes,compris ing in combination a neck portion havin a. discharge opening, said neck portion gra ually decreasingin cross-section outwardly, a cap member engageable with said neck por-y tion and provided with a discharge orifice,

` the cap member being provided with an annular knife edge adapted to be brought into forcible biting engagement with the neck portion at a point substantiallybelow the top thereof leaving a protuberance above the knife edge portion when in closed position, the cap and neck portion being provided with4 threaded engaging means for forcing the cap downwardly so that its kifeedge goes into biting engagement with the neck portion ns' l upon relative rotary movement of the cap member and neck portion.

18. A closure for colla vsible tubes comprising in combination a eck member havs ing a. discharge aperture therein, a cap member having a discharge aperture therein, one of said members being provided with a knife edge which is adapted tobear'against an adjav cent surface ofthe other member and to enl gage such surface and form a knife edge seal', the neck member and the cap member being provided with inter-engaging means for forcmg the two members together for eecting said knife edge seal.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

CHARLES Vl HICKMAN. RAYMOND L.'JEFFERY. 

